King Charles says its 'more imperative than ever' to understand the Muslim world
King Charles has said the world needs to better respect and understand the Muslim faith at a time of fractured global relations.
He was speaking at a centre in Oxford which has spent the last four decades working to promote tolerance and understanding of the Islamic world.
The Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, of which the King is patron, was set up in 1985.
It was at this organisation where the King, as Prince Charles, made a now-famous speech in 1993 on the West’s misunderstanding of Islam.
Today he praised the centre’s “unfailing” work.
The King said: “The centre’s ongoing commitment to objective scholarship and international cooperation, underpinned by principles of dialogue, deep understanding and mutual respect, is more imperative than ever in today’s world.”
His speech, and the reception to mark the organisation's 40th anniversary was attended by leaders of all faiths including the Bishop of Oxford, Stephen Croft and Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, the spiritual leader of Nigeria’s Muslim community who speaks out against terrorist groups like Boko Haram.
With ongoing tensions in the world, including in Israel, Gaza, Yemen and Iran, the King praised those who work to foster greater understanding between religions.
“I need hardly say I am extremely heartened that the centre continues to play such a significant role in that globally critical endeavour,” he said.
The Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies acts as a ‘meeting point’ for the Western and Islamic worlds, and through its teachings and lectures, as part of the University of Oxford, it contributes to the study of the Islamic world.
The King takes very seriously his unofficial role as a representative of all faiths, in addition to his constitutional role as Sovereign, who is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England.
Today, the King cut the ribbon on a new area of the centre - the “King Charles III” wing – renamed in his honour.
Its Director Dr Farhan Nizami, has worked with the King since the very beginning, 40 years ago.
He said the King’s formal role in the Church of England, actually helps him to promote an understanding of others.
Dr Nizami said: “Interfaith understanding is secure only when we approach it from within our own religious traditions. His Majesty is Head of the Church of England, his engagement with faith is rooted within his religious traditions.
"That provides the basis for a more stable interaction with others – and that is the basis on which Muslims should engage with people of different faiths.”
As Prince of Wales, the King’s 1993 lecture, "Islam and the West," is widely considered to have been ahead of its time and is one of the reasons King Charles is respected by the Muslim community the world over.
Despite being more than 30 years ago, the then Prince Charles urged the west to stop focusing on the extremes of Islam: "Our judgement of Islam has been grossly distorted by taking the extremes to be the norm."
After talking to the King today, the Bishop of Oxford, The Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft, said: “As Prince of Wales, he affirmed all faiths and he has continued to do that, in very particularly ways, as King.”
The Bishop spoke of the UK being a “multi faith society" now and added: “From a Church of England perspective, we deeply value his role as head of the church… but we deeply value that he cares so much about other faiths.”
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